Temperature control system



y 1941. F. E. LANGE $249,215 TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed 001:. '7, 1958 Quanta:

Ili fmedcmick EJHunge Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM Frederlclr E. Lange, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application October 7, 1938, Serial No. 233,797

11 Claims.

of heat in the heating means and for the supply of this heat to the space so that the temperature of the space will not actually start to rise after the heating means is placed in the heat increasing condition for a length of time which will vary in accordance with the type of heating system. Thus this time lag is more pronounced in a hot water heating system than in a hot air heating system. Where a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the space controls the heating plant in such a manner that the heating plant is placed in the heat increasingcondition until the temperature has risen to a desired value, the heat which is stored up in the heating system will continue supplying heat to the space and raise the temperature thereof for a length of time after the heating plant is shut down. The result of this is that the temperature of the space will continue to rise higher than the desired value so that the temperature is not maintained at an even value, thus causing discomfort to the occupants of the space.

ments known as anticipating heaters to anticipate the arrival of heat in the space. Originally these heaters were energized upon a call for heat by the thermostat so that the thermostat would heat up more rapidly than the space temperature and shut down the heating plant before the temperature of the space actually reached the desired value so that the residual heat in the heating system would be just suflicient normally to bring the space temperature up to the desired value. Where this heating means is energized upon a call for heat however, the thermostat may heat up more rapidly than desired under certain conditions as following a night shut down period where the temperature is considerably below the desired value so that during the morning pick-up period a great many operations of the heating means will be necessary due to frequent shutdowns thereof because of this anticipating heater and thus requiring a great deal of time before the space temperature reaches a desired value. This difliculty has been overcome by providing means whereby the anticipating heater is not energized until the spacetemperature has actually started to rise above thetemperature at which the thermostat calls for heat. In other words, if the thermostat calls for heat at 68 F. and becomes satisfied at 70 the heater adjacent thereto would not be energized until the space temperature had actually risen slightly above the'68 value. Where the heating load on 7 the system is constant this arrangement proves very satisfactory. However, because the heating load does not remain constant this anticipating heater may supply too much heat to the thermostat during cold weather and not enough during warm weather. The reason for this is that the heat losses from the structure being heated are greater during cold weather than during warm weather so that over-shooting is more pronounced during warm weather because of the fact that the residual heat in the heating plant has a greater efiect on the space where the heat losses are low.

In order to overcome this difliculty it has been proposed to vary the heating effect of the anticipating heater in accordance with outdoor temperatures. Thus as the temperature outdoors is low the heating effect of the heater will be less than when the temperature outdoors is high so that the heat given ofl thereby will. be

- correct for different outdoor temperatures. This type of system does not however take into consideration variations in the heat load caused by factors other than outdoor temperature. It is well known that variations in the wind velocity, the sun effect, and variations in the internal heat load such, as the number of occupants in the space, etc., also greatly aifect the heating load on the heating system.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for adjusting the heater adjacent the thermostat in accordance with variations in the total heat load so that the correct amount of heat will be supplied to the thermostat regardless of variations in outdoor temperature, wind velocity, sun effect, etc. This may be accomplished by varying the heating effect of the thermostat heater in accordance with the rate at which the temperature of the space rises during operation of the heating plant since this rate will vary in accordance with variations in the total heating load on the system.

For a more complete description of the manner in which this is accomplished, reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

in series with the heating element-43.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a space whose temperature is to be controlled is provided with a heating means shown herein as a radiator through which a heating medium such as water or steam is circulated, this radiator being connected by pipes l2 and I3 to a furnace l4. This furnace may be heated in any suitable manner such as by oil, gas, or coal and for purposes of illustration it is illustrated herein as being a gas fired furnace, gas being supplied thereto by means of a pipe |5 under the control of a valve l5. The position of the valve l5 may arms 23 and 24 which cooperate with the fixed contacts 25 and 25, respectively. Upon energlzation of the relay-coil 2|, the switch arms are moved into engagement. with the cooperating contacts and upon deenergization of the relay coil the switch arms move out of engagement therewith under the influence of gravity orany suitable biasing, means (not shown).

Located in the space III is a thermostat generally designated by the reference character 35. This thermostat is shown to comprise a bimetallic element 3| carrying the contact arms 32, 33, and 34 for movement towards and away from the fixed contacts 35, 35, and 31, respectively, in accordance with variations in temperature at the bimetallic element 3|. These contacts are arranged to sequentially engage the fixed contacts as the temperature in the-space falls and to-move away from the fixed contacts in accordance with arise in temperature at the bimetallic element 3| in the reverse order. Contact 32 is arranged to engage contact 35 first and contact 34 engages contact 31 last as the temperature in the'space falls.

Located adjacent the bimetallic element 3| is a heater 40 which is arranged, whenenergized, to raise the temperature of the bimetallic element above the space temperature. This heating element may be located adjacent the bimetallic ele-' ment as illustrated or if desired, may be wound around the bimetallic element toTn'sure good heat transfer relationship.

Connected in series with the heating'element 40 is an adjustable resistance indicated by the reference character 42. ance includes the resistance element 43 and an arm 44 arranged to move thereover so as to vary the resistance in series with the heater 4th The arm 44 is shown to comprise a bimetallic element fixed at one end at 45 and adiacent'which, in heat transfer relationship therewith, is the electrical heating element 45. This heating element is arranged, when energized, to cause the bimetallic element 44 to move downwardly over the resistance 43 so as to increase the resistance movement of the bimetallic element 44 will take place gradually so that the resistance in series with the heating element 43 will increase in accordance with the length of time that the heating element 45 is energized.

For supplying power to the thermostat heater 43 and the relay 23, a step-down transformer 53 This adjustable resist- This With the parts in the positions illustrated the thermostat 35 is satisfied, or in other words, is not calling for heat within the space l3. In this position of the thermostat, the relay 20 is deenergized, as is the solenoid I], so that the valve I5 is in its closed or minimum position so that little or no heat is being supplied to the heating medium which circulates through the radiator The electrical heaters 40 and 45 are also deenergized and the bimetallic element 44 of the adjustable resistance 42 is relatively cool and is at the upper portion of the resistance 43 so that a'minimum amount of resistance is in series with the heating-element 45. As the temperature in the space begins to fall to 70, for

example'the contact arm 32 of the thermostat will engage the contact 35. As the temperature continues to fall to 68, for example, the contacts 33 and 34 will engage the fixed contacts 35 and 31 sequentially and when all of the movable contacts of the thermostat are in engagement with the fixed contacts, power is supplied to the relay coil 2| as follows: from the transformer secondary 5| through conductors 53, 5|, contact 35, contact arm 32, contact arm 34, contact 31, conductors 53, 54, 55, relay coil 2|, and conductor 55 to the other side of secondary 5|. Energization of the' relay coil 2| causes movement of arms 23 andv 24 into engagement with the fixed contacts 25 and 25, respectively. Power is now supplied to the solenoid |l as follows: from the line wire 54 through conductor 55, contact 25, switch noid causes valve l5 to open whereuponamaximum amount of fuel is supplied to the furnace and the heating medium therein begins to heat up and to circulate through the radiator so as to supply heat to the space 1.: Because of the fact that heaters 43 and 45 are shunted out by the above described circuit, no heat is supplied thereby to the bimetallic elements 3| and 44.

After a certain length of time-the temp rature of the space will start to rise so that contact 3401 the thermostat will move out of en agement with the contact 31. The relay coil at this time remains energized through the following maintaining circuit, it being understood that arm 24 is now in engagement with contact 25, this maintaining circuit being as follows: from transformer secondary 5| through conductors 53, 3|, contacts 35, 32, 33, and 35" of the thermostat, conductors 15,15, heating element 45, conductor 'll, switch arm 24, contact 25, conductor 55, relay coil 2|, and conductor 55 to the other side of the secondary 5|. It will now be understood that the relay 23 remains energized after contact 34 of the thermostat moves away from contact 31 through the holding circuit which includes the heating element 45 and since the original energizing circuit for the relay which was in parallel with this heatihg element has been broken at the thermostat, the heating element will begin to heat up and cause the bimetallic element 44 to fiex downwardly so as to gradually increase the resistance in series with the heating element 43. The heating element 43isv shunted out by the above described circuit so that as long as the above-described maintaining circuit, which includes the contacts 33 and 36, is energized no heat is given oil to the thermostat by this heater 40.

Upon a rise in temperature of for example, whereupon the contact 33 of the thermostat moves out of engagement with the contact 36, the aforedescribed maintaining circuit for the relay which included the heater 46 is interrupted and the only maintaining circuit for the relay is now as follows: from the transformer secondary 5| through conductors 60, 6|, contacts and 32 of the thermostat through the bimetallic element 3 i conductor 80, the heating element 40, conductors BI, 82, resistance 43, bimetallic element 44, resistance 46, conductor 11, switch arm 24, contact 26, conductor 65, relay coil 2|, and conductor 66 to the other side of the secondary 5|. The amount of resistance 43 that is in series with the heating element will depend upon the length of time that heater 46 was energized or in other words, upon the length of time required for the.

the space temperature was actually starting to rise. The resistance in series with the heater 40 is therefore dependent upon the rate of riseof the space temperature, the slower this rate, the greater the heating'load on the system,- and the greater the amount of resistance in series with the heater 40 so that the heating effect of this heater varies'inversely as the heating load on the system. Since the resistance value of the heater 40 is considerably greater than that of the heater 46, the heat given off by the heater 46 will now be substantially reduced since the only circuit through this heater includes the heater 40. The heat given oil? by the heater 46 at this time will be insufficient to cause further downward movement of the bimetallic element 44 but may be enough to maintain the bimetallic element in a substantially stationary condition so that during the time that heat is being supplied to the thermostat by the heater 40, the portion of the resistance 43 that is in circuit therewith will not change to any appreciable extent. The thermal element 44 may have a relatively large heat capacity so that slight variations in the amount of heat supplied thereto at this time will have little effect on the bimetallic element perature again starts to fall. After a certain lapse of time with the heating plant shut down the space temperature will gradually drop back to 68 whereupon the aforedescribed cycle of operation will take place. If during this time there is a variation in the heating load.of the system due to any factor such as a change in the wind velocity or the sun effect, or the outside temperature, or the number of occupants in the space, the rate of rise in the space temperature will vary so that the time required for the space temperature to rise from 68 to 68 will change and the position of the bimetallic element 44 with respect to the resistance 43 at the ,time that the contact 33 of the thermostat moves away from the contact 36 will vary accordingly, to properly change the heating effect of the heater 40 so that this change in the heating load is properly compensated for and the correct amount of heat is supplied to the thermostat in accordance with the particular heating load. at any given time.

It should be noted that the heater 40 is not energized until the space thermostat has risen above 68 2 for example, or in other words. not energized until the space temperature is actually approaching the desired value so that during times such as the morning pick-up period short and frequent operations of the heating plant will not be required to bring the space tempera.. ture up to the desired value. Also due to the fact that heater 46 is not energized until the space temperature begins to rise and reaches a value above 68, the total heat given oif by this heater will vary directly in accordance with the actual rate of increase of heat in the space and will correctly measure the total heat load of the system which it not possible to do by the employment of merely an outside temperature responsive device for varying the heating efiect of an anticipating heater in accordance solely with changes in outdoor temperature.

It should be understood of course that the values at which the contacts'of the thermostat 30 open and close maybe varied as desired and for example, the'valve l6 and solenoid i'l might since it will cool slowly if at all and thus theof heat in the space and causing the temperature at the thermostat to rise to 70 before the space temperature actually reaches this value and causing the thermostat contact 32 to move away from the contact 35, thus deenergizing relay 20 and causing the fuel supply valve l6 to move back to its original closed or minimum position. Heaters 4!! and 46 are at this time deenergized so that the bimetallic elements will both cool oil, the bimetallic element 3| cooling down to the space temperature and the bimetallic element 44 cooling so that it again moves back to the original position illustrated. If the stored heat in the radiator ii and the furnace I4 is suflicient to rais the space temperature to 70 the thermobereplaced by motor operated check and draft dampers for a coal fired furnace, or an oil bumer, or any other suitable apparatus.

While I'have illustrated and described herein one preferred form of my invention it is obvious that the invention is susceptible to modifications by those skilled in the art and it should therefore be understood that my invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system ot the class described, a temperaturechanging means for a space, a space temperature responsive means in control of the temperature changing means and arranged to increase the temperature changing effect of the temperature changing means when the space temperature attains one predetermined value and to decrease the temperature changing effect thereof when the temperature to which the temperature responsive means is responsive attains a second predetermined value, temperature changing means adjacent the temperature responsive means and arranged, when in operation, to cause the temperature of the temperature responsive means to be maintained at a value diflerent' from the space temperature, means responsive to the attainment of a third predetermined temperature in the space which is between the first andsecond predetermined values for causing operation of the temperature changing means adjacent the temperature remeans being arranged to increase the heating effect of the heating means when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds drops .to a predetermined value and to decrease the heating eiIect thereof when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds rises to a second predetersponsive means, and means responsive to the time required for the space temperature to vary from the first predetermined value to the third predetermined value after the temperature changing means begins to sheet the space temperature for controlling the temperature chan ing efiect of the temperature changing means adjacent the temperature responsive means.

2. In a system of the classdescribed, a temperature changing means ior a space, a space temperature responsive means in control of the temperature changing means and arranged to is between the first and second predetermined values for causing operation of the temperature changing means adjacent the temperature responsive means, and means responsive to the time required for the space temperature to vary from the first predetermined value to the third predetermined value after the temperature changing means begins to aifect the space tom,-

mined value, heating means adjacent said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the ambient temperature, means responsive to a rise in the space temperature to a third predetermined value between said first and second. values for energizing said heating means adjacent said thermostatic means, and controlling means for controlling the heating eifect of said heating means, ans operative between the time the temperature starts to rise above said first predetermined value and a further predetermined value which is lower than the second predetermined value for adjusting said controlling means whereby the heating effect of the heating means adjacent the thermostatic means is varied inversely as the lengthef said time.

- 5. In a system of the class described, a space- .heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of said space heating means and arranged to increase the heating efiiect of the heating means when thetemperature at said thermostatic means drops to one predetermined value and to decrease the heating effect of the heating me s in response to a rise in tempera ture at said thermostatic means to a higher predetermined value, heating means adjacent.

said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the space temperature, means responsive to a rise in temperature in the space to a temperature between saidfirst and second values to energize said heating means adjacent the thermostatic means, and means responsive to the total heating load on the system for conperature for varying the temperature changing eflect of the temperature changing means adjacent the temperature responsive means inversely as the length of such time.

'3. In a system of the class described, a space heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of the heating means, said thermostatic means being arranged to increase the heating effect of the heating means when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds drops to a predetermined value and to decrease the heating efifect thereof when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds rises to a second predetermined value, heating means adjacent said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the ambient temperature, means responsive, to a rise in the space temperature to a third predetermined value between said first and second values for energizing said heating means adjacent said thermostatic means, and means responsive to the length of time required to raise the temperature of the space between two predetermined values after the space temperature has started to rise by reason of the increased heating eflect'of the space heating means for controlling the heating eifect of the heating means adjacent the thermostatic means.

4. In a system of the class described; a space heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of the heating means, said thermostatic trolling the heating eiiect of said last named heating means.

6.-In a system of the class described, a space heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of said space heating means and arranged to increase the heating effect of the heating means when the temperature at said thermostatic means drops to one predetermined value and to decrease the heating effect of the heating means in response to a rise in temperature at said thermostatic means toa higher predetermined value, heating means adjacent said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the space temperature, means responsive to a rise in temperature in the space to a temperature between said first and second values to energize said heating means adjacent the thermostatic means, and means responsive to.;the rate in rise in temperature in the space by the spacgtheating means for controlling the heating efifec of the heating means adjacent the thermostatic means.

'I. In a temperature changing system, a space temperature changing means, thermostatic means responsive to the space temperature in control of the'temperature changing means, said thermostatic means being arranged to increase and decrease the temperature changing eflect of the temperature changing means in response to diflerent temperatures at the thermostatic means, means operative to change the temperature at the thermostatic means at a more rapid rate than that at which the space temperature is changed by the space temperature changing means, means delaying action of said last named temperature changing means until the space temperature changing means has caused a change in the space temperature to a predetermined value, and means responsive to. the rate of change of the space temperature by the space temperature changing means to control the temperature changing effect of the last named temperature changing means.

8. In a system of the class described, a space heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of the heating means, said thermostatic means being arranged to, increase the temperature to which the temperature changing meansresponds drops to a predetermined value and to decrease the heating eiit'ect thereof when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds rises to a second predetermined value, electrical heating means adjacent said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the ambient temperature,- means responsive to a rise-in the space temperature to a third value between said first and second values for energizing said electrical heating means, adjustable resistance means in series with said electrical heating means for controlling the heating efi'ect thereof, and means responsive to the rate of rise in the space temperature by the space heating means for controlling said adjustable resistance means.

9. In a system of the class described, a space heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of the heating means, said thermostatic means being arranged to increase the heating effect of the heating means when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds drops to a predetermined value and the space temperature starts to rise above the first predetermined value until the space temperature reaches said third value whereby the heating effect of the electrical heating means varies inversely as the rate of rise of the space adjustable resistance means in series with said heating effect of the heating means when the electrical heating means, means responsive to engagement of all of said movable contacts with the respective fixed contacts for causing an increase in the heating eifect of the space heating means, means responsive to disengagement of the third movable contact and the respective fixed contact for causing operation of the adjustable resistance means to gradually increase the resistance thereof, circuit connections operative in response to disengagement of the second movable contact with the co-operating fixed contact for causing energization of the electrical heating means, and means for maintaining the space heating means in heat increasing condition until all of the movable contacts have moved away from the cooperating fixed contacts. 11. In' a system of the class described, a space.

heating means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of the space being heated in control of the heating means, said thermostatic means being arranged to increase the heating efiect of the heating means when the temperature.

to which the temperature changing means responds drops to a predetermined value and to decrease the heating efiect thereof when the temperature to which the temperature changing means responds rises to a second predetermined value, heating meansadjacent said thermostatic means for raising the temperature thereof above the ambient temperature, means responsive to a rise in the space temperature to a third predetermined value between said first and second values for energizing said heating means adjacent said thermostatic means, and means responsive to the time required for the space temperature to increase from the first predetermined value to the third predetermined value after the heating effect of the space heating means is' increased for controlling the heating efiect of the heating means adjacent the thermostatic means.

FREDERICK E. LANGE. 

